FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Sophomore Kaitlyn Ripley (Stafford, Va., Stafford) netted the eventual game winning goal five minutes into the second half as the University of Mary Washington field hockey team defeated Washington & Lee University on Sunday at the Battleground, 3-2. The Eagles improve to 7-5 on the season.

The Eagles opened the scoring midway through the first half, as MacKenzie Sloan (Earlysville, Va., Albemarle) scored on a Morgan Jones (Williamsburg, Va., Walsingham Academy) assist with 17:31 remaining. UMW upped the lead to 2-0 with 8:32 left in the half as Amy Stevens (Annandale, Va., Annandale) scored on a Jones assist.

UMW upped the lead to 3-0 with Ripley's goal with 29:48 left in regulation on a feed from Erin Duffy (Fairfax, Va., Robinson). The Generals would respond quickly, however, as Sallie Armstrong scored 29 seconds later to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Generals scored again five minutes later, but both defenses stiffened from there, and the final score stood at 3-2.

Mary Washington had eight shots to nine for the Generals, while UMW had 10 penalty corners to six for W&L. Chrissy Bowdren (Fairfax Station, Va., Robinson) had three stops in goal for the Eagles, while Caroline Habliston had two stops for the Generals.

The Eagles will host Hood College on Thursday in Capital Athletic Conference action starting at 4:00 p.m.